AWS Secrets Manager vs dotenvx
AWS Secrets Manager
aws.amazon.comdotenvx
dotenvx.comSide by side
| Figure | AWS Secrets Manager | dotenvx |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $0.40/mo | $5/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 3 |
| Spec score · Secrets Management Tools | 8.5 (#3) | 8.5 (#4) |
| Encryption | Secrets Manager encrypts secrets at rest with AWS Key Management Service keys and transmits retrieved secrets over TLS. | Dotenvx uses public-key encryption with a secp256k1 key pair, keeping the private decryption key separate from the encrypted .env file. |
| Purpose | AWS Secrets Manager manages access to applications, services, IT resources, database credentials, API keys, and other secrets throughout their lifecycle. | Dotenvx encrypts secrets in .env files and decrypts and injects them at runtime for applications. |
Plans
In their own words
AWS Secrets Manager
AWS Secrets Manager has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
dotenvx
dotenvx encrypts secrets stored in.env files, then decrypts and injects them when an application runs. Its maker describes it as free and open source, with hosted and self-hosted deployment options. Public-key encryption uses a secp256k1 key pair, keeping the private decryption key separate from the encrypted file. For development, the private key can be stored in the operating system’s secret store, including macOS Keychain, Windows Credential Manager, or Linux Secret Service. Listed workflow tools include environment selection and composition, validation, pre-commit leak prevention, Docker image protection, key/value operations, and runtime log redaction. The maker says encrypted files can travel with code and be decrypted at runtime using a private key supplied in the deployment environment, without a secrets service in the application’s critical path. Installation options include CLI, npm, winget, Homebrew, GitHub releases, Docker, a Ruby gem, and Python pip. Guides cover developer tools, programming languages, and deployment services. The free User plan includes CLI, SDKs, encryption, and GitHub Issues support. Member is $5 a month; Business is $90 a month. The paid product has a 14-day free trial.